Five-time champions Mumbai Indians suffered a fourth straight loss in the ongoing Indian Premier League on Thursday, a result that has deepened their troubles and left them sitting ninth among 10 teams in the IPL 2026 standings. Even though MI posted a respectable 195/6—bolstered by Quinton de Kock’s match-defining, unbeaten 112—Punjab Kings chased it down with ease, reaching the target in 16.3 overs to secure a seven-wicket triumph. The defeat highlighted how difficult the campaign has been for the Hardik Pandya-led side, with performances not quite clicking across departments.
MI’s slide continues despite a big de Kock knock
Mumbai’s effort against Punjab looked promising at first, but it ultimately failed to translate into a win. De Kock’s unbeaten century powered the innings, yet the bowling and overall control from MI couldn’t prevent Punjab from taking charge once the chase began.
- MI lost for the fourth consecutive time, extending a worrying downturn in IPL 2026.
- They sit in ninth place among 10 teams in the points table.
- Mumbai reached 195/6, with Quinton de Kock scoring an unbeaten 112.
- Punjab chased down the target in 16.3 overs to win by seven wickets.
The setback also underlined the mounting concerns inside the MI camp. After breaking a 14-year jinx by winning their opening match, the franchise has managed only one victory in their next five games. Even Jasprit Bumrah, typically the backbone of Mumbai’s bowling, has struggled—he has gone wicketless so far, a T20 streak that represents his longest such run in the format.
Mayank Rawat gets a debut—but it comes with no impact
Amid the broader gloom, a new face was quietly added to the playing XI: Mayank Rawat. At the toss, Pandya mentioned the change in passing, saying, “We have a debutant, Mayank Rawat.” The announcement, however, did not draw much attention compared with bigger headlines around the match, including Rohit Sharma’s absence and de Kock not opening the innings.
Rawat’s debut turned out to be extremely low-key. The 26-year-old entered the contest in the final over after Tilak Varma was dismissed, but he didn’t take a single delivery and finished with 0 not out. With the ball, he also wasn’t called into action as Punjab sealed the result with 21 balls remaining.
For a league where debuts often come with instant highlights, Rawat’s first appearance offered no defining moment—just a quiet introduction to the IPL environment.
How Mayank Rawat earned his IPL opportunity
While Thursday’s game provided little on-field drama for Rawat, his path to the IPL has been shaped by persistence and gradual growth. The New Delhi-born all-rounder, aged 26, received his chance after New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner was ruled out due to illness.
- Rawat is a 26-year-old all-rounder from New Delhi.
- He was included after Mitchell Santner missed out because of illness.
- He trains within Delhi’s cricket ecosystem and has been noticed through domestic performances.
- His rise was particularly linked to consistent showings in the Delhi Premier League.
Rawat was bought at his base price of Rs 30 lakh in the auction, giving him a sudden opportunity to share a dressing room with top names such as de Kock, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Afghanistan spinner AM Ghazanfar.
From age-group promise to a late breakthrough
Rawat’s cricketing journey dates back to 2011, when he began training under coach Rajesh Nagar. He showed early promise and even made headlines in age-group cricket with innings of 220 and 244, but regular chances did not consistently arrive in the years that followed. At times, his form fluctuated and opportunities remained limited, testing his resolve.
Eventually, his resurgence came through stronger domestic performances, where he sharpened his all-round skills and pushed selectors to take notice. Thursday may not have offered Rawat the memorable debut he would have hoped for, but it still represented the culmination of years of effort and endurance leading to his IPL entry.
